Portugal chases redemption

Page Tools

If Luis Figo has the face of a spoiled priest, his teammate Anderson Luis de Souza - better known as Deco - wears the expression of a man on his way to the confessional. Carrying Portugal's hopes on his shoulders against Russia on Wednesday night, the Brazilian-born playmaker looked as though every move that failed to produce a goal was bringing him closer to the fires of hell.

But after enduring a thousand sufferings, Deco gave his team a glimpse of the redemption that may come its way tomorrow morning (Melbourne time) in the latest of many nights of high tension for Portuguese football.

"This is like a final that nobody wanted," said Portugal's veteran striker, Pauleta, of tomorrow's match between Portugal and Spain, which promises to raise the tournament's temperature to a new level. Spain needs only a draw to qualify. But the host must win if it is to reach the final eight.

"We expected to get to this stage having already qualified," Pauleta continued, "but Greece took their chances and now they're the favourites."

Deco recently switched nationalities in order to give himself a chance of international football. Portuguese critics of that decision, Figo among them, had every reason to be grateful against Russia for the way Deco took on the job of running the game, showing a tremendous appetite for hard work to go with his touch and vision.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

After seven minutes, he produced the searching pass that enabled Maniche to open the scoring with a precise shot. When Portugal failed to score again, though Russia was down to 10 men, Deco refused to get discouraged. When promising moves failed to bear fruit, he shook his head in disappointment and got on with the job.

So a Brazilian coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, and an ex-Brazilian player might just turn out to be responsible for dispelling the air of dilettantism that has plagued the Portugal team for so long, preventing it from fulfilling the destiny that appeared manifest when Figo, Rui Costa, Couto, Pauleta and the rest won the world youth championship in 1989 and 1991.

Having reinforced the defence and the midfield since the opening match, Scolari might now turn his attention to the attack. Although Benfica's Simao Sabrosa has started both games on the left wing, Cristiano Ronaldo has twice come on to good effect, scoring the consolation goal against Greece and providing a brilliant cross for Rui Costa to double the lead against Russia. But Scolari may still feel that at this stage, Ronaldo is best used as an impact player.

Almost unnoticed, however, Figo is showing signs of returning to his old form, frequently picking the ball up in deep positions and using his acceleration and close control to draw defenders. The more he and Deco play together, the more dangerous Portugal will become.

Spain's big-name attack also has been disappointing, the wonderful goal contrived by Raul and Fernando Morientes on Wednesday only emphasising a more general failure to live up to their reputation.

They are flanked by a pair of skilful wingers in Joseba Etxeberria and Vicente Rodriguez, with a more than useful understudy in Joaquin. The powerfully built young Real Betis player created havoc in the second half against Greece, providing ammunition for the many critics who believe the coach, Iaki Saez, should have put him in the starting line-up.

Given the group standings and the stakes, the match should turn into a battle between Portugal's attack and Spain's defence, the latter already short of competent centre-backs and now further weakened by a one-match suspension for Carlos Marchena.

"The atmosphere has changed," Pauleta said, "and we've regained the support of the fans. But it's going to be a complicated match."